Why is "GetFullScreenAlignment()" in UUserWidget protected?

I’m trying to extend the fantastic “iTween” package to include the ability to animate widget alignment. For this, I need to access the widget’s current alignment, interpolate from it and set it again. Setting is no problem (SetAlignmentInViewport() is public) but I can’t actually get the current alignment, as GetFullScreenAlignment() is protected. Is there any particular reason for this? The widget’s RenderTransform is public, so it seems odd to me that alignment is protected.